Sorry for bad format, on the go submission.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BUNy_t-8VEdccZMB6eZ-6IiVtY96gz0xua9gOrel03w/edit?usp=drivesdk
Ariadne’s Threads
Nestled in a narrow alleyway near the space port docks, this small clothing shop is a must-visit for anyone looking for a personal set of threads. Fashion is an alien concept within its walls, as a variety of seemingly haphazard garments and accessories lay strewn about on racks and hangers in a pattern that only the owner seems to truly follow. Instead, style is all that matters and few are the patrons who visit and do not leave with it.
Finding this treasure trove of assorted galactic garments is not difficult if one knows where to look, though passing by a few food stalls selling fermented Guuber-fish, vaulting a drum of leaking hypermatter fuel and whisking past an ill-tempered guard Massiff that is kept on a very generous length of chain do all present certain hindrances. After venturing past these obstacles, one would find themselves in a very narrow alleyway with barely enough room for two to squeeze past each other, standing before a stained transparisteel pane where the offerings of the day are presented.
Often enough these will be at first glance atrocious rag-tag ensembles of cacophonous collections, but the longer one inspects them the more these often frilly and flamboyant outfits begin to make sense. Small details begin to pop up, a certain narrative emerging from each garment and a story, or message begins to convey from the choice of fabric, color and pattern down to the smallest details in accessories.
For those in a hurry, this is not the place for them, but for those with the time to spare the owner can summon truly remarkable ensembles that, despite their ragtag appearance, still speak to some primal part of the person’s self. It is often said that if one is lost, they can find themselves in Ariadne’s Threads...
Obsidian Market
A den of haggling and merchandise, located a few short alleys away from the docks, the Obsidian Market is a loosely defined area of relatively open space where various ramshackle stalls have been built. The constructs have no real cohesive design to them, effortlessly combining tarps and sheets of corrugated durasteel with slabs of repurposed concrete and rusted support struts.
Mingling scents of exotic spices, spaceship lubricants, meats and hides permeate the grounds while a cacophony of muted haggling and boisterous claims of low prices fill the air. Often filled with Ol’valians and passers-by in equal measure, the Obsidian Market rarely sleeps and is a surefire way of running into new and intriguing personalities. Especially if you try to shorthand someone on a deal.
From arms and ammo to food and fineries, the market caters to all tastes and for the right price, even the most discerning ones can be satisfied. However, for the most part this souk is little more than a glorified grocery store for the vast majority of Ol’val’s populace, where they can purchase the freshest imports or bring their own wares for sale or barter.
ALaS Co Field Office: Ol’val Branch
A tidy, no-frills affair in an otherwise chaotic maelstrom of shipping, the ALaS Co Field Office sits squarely on the second level catwalks overlooking the main docks. A pale blue sheen on its front window and the black-and-gold emblem of the outfit make it a fairly easily distinguished shop front among the other operators that line the portside walkways.
Inside, a cool and pleasant, if a bit stifled atmosphere awaits, with several inoffensive couches of dark brown leather offering a seat for the waiting customers while a small bubbling fountain provides a soothing distraction as well as refreshment. The lobby itself is compact, containing little more than the aforementioned couches and water fountain, before terminating in an angular reception desk behind which a smartly dressed clerk ought to be waiting. In case that is not the case, a helpful buzzer sits atop the counter and which may or may not summon the official depending on the individual’s particular motivation that day.
Due to the sometimes spotty attendance by the clerks, some passers-by have taken to loitering within the office, enjoying the free water, seating and ventilation for free. However, a droid-automated security system, complete with a drop-down ceiling mounted repeating blaster has proven to dissuade such behavior in recent times. Especially in the wake of the unfortunate events surrounding Ewan “I ain’t movin’” Tsarrask.
All manners of items may be handled at the field office, ranging from arranging transportation for goods and people, to checking up on customs, shipment details or fuel prices. ALaS Co also provides a selection of commodity goods that can be easily shipped to the customer upon request, providing easy access to raw materials for any entrepreneurial sort, though bulk orders are required.